# 1996 World Matchplay

The 1996 Webster's World Matchplay was the third time the World Matchplay darts tournament had been held in the Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool between 28 July–3 August 1996.
Phil Taylor was the defending champion, but got knocked out by eventual champion Peter Evison by a convincing scoreline of 8–1 in the second round, with Evison averaging over 100. Evison would go onto to record another ton-plus average in the final against Dennis Priestley (who appeared in his third consecutive - and final - World Matchplay final).

## Prize money

The prize fund was £48,000.
| Position (no. of players) | Position (no. of players) | Prize money (Total: £48,000) |
| Winner | (1) | £12,000 |
| Runner-Up | (1) | £7,000 |
| Third place | (1) | £3,750 |
| Fourth place | (1) | £3,250 |
| Quarter-finalists | (4) | £1,650 |
| Second round | (8) | £925 |
| First round | (16) | £500 |

## Seeds

There were eight seeds for the competition.
* Phil Taylor
* Dennis Priestley
* Alan Warriner
* Jamie Harvey
* John Lowe
* Bob Anderson
* Rod Harrington
* Keith Deller

## Results

Players in bold denote match winners.

### Preliminary round

(best of 9 legs, but need a 2 leg difference.)
| Player | Score | Player |
| Mick Manning | 5–0 | Garry Haynes |
| Peter Manley | 5–2 | Paul Cook |
| Jerry Umberger | 8–6 | Darren Peetoom |
| Ritchie Gardner | 5–2 | Mark Sherwood |
| Phil Gilman | 5–3 | Frans Harmsen |
| Bruce Robbins | 5–2 | John Moore |
| Gary Mawson | 5–1 | Joe Holmes |
| Tom Kirby | 7–5 | Nigel Justice |

### Last 32

| First round (best of 15 legs) 29–30 July | First round (best of 15 legs) 29–30 July | First round (best of 15 legs) 29–30 July | Second round (best of 15 legs) 31 July | Second round (best of 15 legs) 31 July | Second round (best of 15 legs) 31 July | Quarter-finals (best of 21 legs) 1 August | Quarter-finals (best of 21 legs) 1 August | Quarter-finals (best of 21 legs) 1 August | | Semi-finals (best of 25 legs) 2 August | Semi-finals (best of 25 legs) 2 August | Semi-finals (best of 25 legs) 2 August | | Final (best of 31 legs) 3 August | Final (best of 31 legs) 3 August | Final (best of 31 legs) 3 August |
| 1 | Phil Taylor 89.07 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Tom Kirby 83.34 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Tom Kirby 83.34 | 6 | 1 | Phil Taylor 94.65 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Peter Evison 103.77 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Peter Evison 88.70 | 8 | | Peter Evison 103.77 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Larry Butler 81.24 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Larry Butler 81.24 | 3 | | | | | Peter Evison 90.54 | 11 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Sean Downs 78.54 | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Keith Deller 72.24 | 7 | | | | | | | | Sean Downs 78.54 | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | Sean Downs 74.25 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sean Downs 74.25 | 9 | | Sean Downs 77.76 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Cliff Lazarenko 77.40 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Cliff Lazarenko 84.30 | 8 | | Cliff Lazarenko 77.40 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gerald Verrier 81.33 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gerald Verrier 81.33 | 2 | | | | | | | | | Peter Evison 89.16 | 13 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Jamie Harvey 84.84 | 9 | | | | |
| 5 | John Lowe 98.97 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Jamie Harvey 84.84 | 9 | | | | |
| | Shayne Burgess 93.15 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Shayne Burgess 93.15 | 6 | 5 | John Lowe 89.97 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Dennis Smith 85.23 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Dennis Smith 81.69 | 8 | | Dennis Smith 85.23 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Eric Bristow 76.65 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Eric Bristow 76.65 | 4 | | | | | Dennis Smith 81.12 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Jamie Harvey 86.07 | 11 | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Jamie Harvey 80.91 | 8 | | | | | | | 4 | Jamie Harvey 86.07 | 11 | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Phil Gilman 83.10 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Phil Gilman 83.10 | 5 | 4 | Jamie Harvey 84.84 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Q | Peter Manley 81.30 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Dave Kelly 82.89 | 2 | Q | Peter Manley 81.30 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Peter Manley 84.48 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Peter Manley 84.48 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Peter Evison 100.51 | 16 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Dennis Priestley 96.67 | 14 |
| 2 | Dennis Priestley 79.17 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Dennis Priestley 96.67 | 14 |
| Q | Gary Mawson 77.49 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Gary Mawson 77.49 | 4 | 2 | Dennis Priestley 92.61 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Q | Jerry Umberger 83.37 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Jerry Umberger 74.91 | 8 | Q | Jerry Umberger 83.37 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Steve Raw 76.98 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Steve Raw 76.98 | 5 | | | | 2 | Dennis Priestley 92.46 | 15 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 7 | Rod Harrington 91.08 | 13 | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Rod Harrington 87.15 | 8 | | | | | | | 7 | Rod Harrington 91.08 | 13 | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Bruce Robbins 76.41 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Bruce Robbins 76.41 | 2 | 7 | Rod Harrington 92.25 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Q | Mick Manning 85.02 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Mick Manning 90.15 | 8 | Q | Mick Manning 85.02 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Paul Bratherton 75.24 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Paul Bratherton 75.24 | 4 | | | | | | | | 2 | Dennis Priestley 91.92 | 13 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Bob Anderson 87.30 | 11 | | | | |
| 6 | Bob Anderson 91.53 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Bob Anderson 87.30 | 11 | | | | |
| | Steve Brown 81.30 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Steve Brown 81.30 | 3 | 6 | Bob Anderson 87.66 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Paul Lim 85.17 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Paul Lim 84.90 | 10 | | Paul Lim 85.17 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Kevin Spiolek 83.61 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Kevin Spiolek 83.61 | 8 | | | | 6 | Bob Anderson 91.62 | 11 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 3 | Alan Warriner 87.90 | 8 | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Alan Warriner 91.17 | 10 | | | | | | | 3 | Alan Warriner 87.90 | 8 | | | | | | | | |
| | Chris Mason 88.20 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Chris Mason 88.20 | 8 | 3 | Alan Warriner 92.01 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Graeme Stoddart 84.69 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Graeme Stoddart 79.62 | 8 | | Graeme Stoddart 84.69 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Ritchie Gardner 77.58 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Third place playoff (best of 21 legs) (4) Jamie Harvey 10–11 (6) Bob Anderson